About

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center Our Organization PEATC is committed to reaching all families, schools and communities as they build positive futures for Virginia’s children. Our Mission Building positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities. We accomplish this by offering: Services and support for families and professionals Easy-to-understand, research-based information and training Opportunities for strategic partnerships and advocacy for systemic improvement Our Vision To be a nationally recognized leader in the development, communication and dissemination of state-of-the-art education, training, outreach and support services for children, particularly children with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Our Values Families are children’s first and best teachers. Information and training enrich and empower families and professionals to build strong partnerships. All children deserve opportunities to live, learn and participate fully in their communities. Children with disabilities can achieve independence and make valuable contributions to society. PEATC helps families….. Negotiate the education and service system maze Effectively communicate their child’s needs (from birth to age 22) Develop self-advocacy and self-determination in children and youth Organize information so that overwhelming problems become manageable Manage their emotions for their child’s benefit and talk so others will listen Learn the difference between effective advocacy and being adversarial Experience and enjoy the power of partnerships and successful collaboration PEATC helps professionals….. Understand the strengths and dreams families have for their children Provide more effective and innovative services Experience and enjoy the power of partnerships and successful collaboration Our History The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is the parent information and training center serving families and professionals of children with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PEATC promotes respectful, collaborative partnerships between parents, schools, professionals and the community that increase the possibilities of success for children with disabilities. PEATC began its proud history of building partnerships to create improved educational opportunities for children with special needs with one family, one child and a courageous school administrator. Sometime in 1970, the parents of Danny Chitwood approached Win Anderson, the Director of Resurrection Preschool, about the possibility of allowing their son with disabilities to attend classes with the other students at their school. Following Danny’s successful inclusion, Win and the Chitwoods were inundated with questions from other families who wanted information about advocating for their children under IDEA, the new special education law. Responding to this pressing need, Win Anderson and Steve Chitwood began a remarkable journey that ultimately touched the lives of thousands of families through the creation of PEATC, the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center. Founded in August of 1978 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, PEATC has become a leader in education support, training and advocacy providing information to families and professionals throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Today, the PEATC Press quarterly newsletter has a circulation of more than 14,000 while www.peatc.org provides information to a worldwide audience. AT PEATC, we don’t just talk about partnerships, we’ve been living them for 30 years. Our Staff PEATC staff and board of directors are caring and responsive individuals who include parents of children with and without disabilities, professionals, self-advocates and community leaders. Our Outreach PEATC is committed to reaching all families, including traditionally underserved, rural and low-income populations and those families that do not know how their effective involvement can make a difference. Outreach efforts include program support for African-American and Latino populations across the Commonwealth. Se habla espanol. Our Products Innovative Products include nationally-recognized models in training and assessment tools, guides and curriculum, easy-to-read, leading-edge publications, videos, a comprehensive website with exciting online resources and a free quarterly newsletter, the PEATC Press. We also present at diverse workshops and conferences. Some current topics include: Special Education No Child Left Behind Cultural Competency Transition (School to Adult Life) Transition (School to Adult Life) Parent/School Communication Reading and Literacy Early Intervention Juvenile Justice Inclusion Comprehensive Services Act Managed Health Care Foster Care Help Make a Difference Individuals/Corporate Supporters PEATC is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We welcome your contributions of time, expertise, in-kind services or financial resources. Please call or visit us at: www.peatc.org.

8003 Forbes Place, Suite 310 Springfield, VA 22151 703-923-0010 (phone) 800-869-6782 (toll free) Copyright © 2015 PEATC – Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center. All rights reserved.Content on this site was produced, in part, with grant funds from the U.S. Department of Education, under CFDA # 84.328M, #84.310A, and #84.235F. The content herein does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, any other agency of the U.S. government, or any other source.PEATC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to building positive futures for Virginia’s children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities. You can reach PEATC by calling 703-923-0010 (Voice/TTY), or sending an e-mail to partners@peatc.org. Celebrating 30 Years of Building Better Futures for Virginia’s Children